Welcome to the interwebs, the place that the color of a dress and an argument over the words “Yanny” and “Laurel” become existential value judgments.
On Sunday, TikTok user Eric Tupper re-posted an old clip of his from a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska. It features someone on a swing, in the snow, going up and down—back and forth. But was he facing the camera or the building? It quickly divided loyalties online.
“Re-post cause it blew up on tiktok, which way is he facing?” he asked the internet at-large.
https://twitter.com/ectupper/status/1208835148587790337
The muddled footage in the snow and lack of definition in park equipment make this a tough call.
The science of his swing quickly became a hotbed of speculation.
https://twitter.com/esnycuddles/status/1208472991354503175?s=20
https://twitter.com/esnycuddles/status/1208595599341367296?s=20
Another user inadvertently points out how the “illusion” works via illustration and the caption: “Yeah he’s clearly facing the camera lol.”
https://twitter.com/MyNameIsZach/status/1208966298786504704?s=20
This is so weird. I showed it to my girl and she says building. I had her explain and I saw what she saw and then I could only see it that way for a minute. I wish I could explain how, but it’s still clear when u look at poles. Bizarre!
— RageAgainstTheVaccine (@orangemanismean) December 23, 2019
The grainy footage and constant motion without much variance don’t help in the selection. That didn’t help people from making sketches and diagrams.
https://twitter.com/RimbambitchsHDA/status/1208730255533518848?s=20
However, the question was answered, apparently. Remember: It’s an old clip.
“We drove up to him, he was facing us,” Tupper tweeted on Feb. 20.
Just in case people are still checking on this and this account is where I first saw this video (which came out in February this year I just learned) here’s the solution from the guy who was there. pic.twitter.com/Wr8HBTLPi2
— SJ.(@STYLESGAMBIT) December 22, 2019
A sleuth has already made a whole detail video. Nothing quite like just going outside into the snow and checking it out yourself.
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